NL2015481B1

NL2015481B1 - Production line for photovoltaic modules, and solar simulator to be used therein.

Info

Publication number: NL2015481B1
Application number: NL2015481A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Johannes Maria Roest Stefanus
Original assignee: Eternal Sun Group B V
Priority date: 2015-09-22
Filing date: 2015-09-22
Publication date: 2017-04-19

Abstract

A production line for photovoltaic modules comprising a solar simulator and at least one photovoltaic module conveyor line for conveying the photovoltaic modules along a conveying track, wherein the solar simulator is positioned along the conveying track of a conveyor line for the photovoltaic modules so as to move the photovoltaic modules next to the solar simulator so as to enable testing the photovoltaic modules in line.

Description

Production line for photovoltaic modules, and solar simulator to be used therein

The invention relates to a production line for photovoltaic modules comprising a solar simulator and at least one photovoltaic module conveyor line for conveying the photovoltaic module along a conveying track.

In such a production line photovoltaic modules are manufactured and tested using the solar simulator. A solar simulator is a device wherein one or more types of lamps and ancillary means such as filters are applied to create light with characteristics approximating natural sunlight. Solar simulators are used to test photovoltaic module conversion efficiency.

An early example of a solar simulator is given by US 3,202,811, which discloses a sun simulating device comprising a light source radiating a luminous flux, a slit means, a focusing means, a luminous flux dispersing means, and a spectral compensating mirror. The device simulates spectral characteristics of solar radiation. The document mentions its use in a laboratory for test purposes. US 3,870,873 teaches a solar simulator positioned within an environmental chamber. Daylight is simulated in this chamber with a xenon lamp which is changeably filtered so as to produce light conditions that nearly approximate the varying sun conditions throughout a day. US 2006/0176694 teaches a solar simulator comprising a lamp bank that includes a combination of mercury lamps, halogen lamps and halogen filter lamps. The solar simulator further comprises a temperature control unit and an electrical panel for controlling operations of the lamp bank to control its irradiance within an environment recreation laboratory. US 4,641,227, US 5,623,149 and US 5,217,285 each teach the use of a solar simulator for testing photovoltaic modules in a standalone configuration.

The solar simulator of US 4,641,227 comprises filter means capable of eliminating a near infrared component from the light of a xenon short arc lamp and extracting the near infrared component from the light of an incandescent filament lamp and direct the light to an integrating optical system.

The solar simulator of US 5,623,149 teaches a high fidelity dual source solar simulator comprising a plurality of light sources and a plurality of optical filters for band pass filtering and curve shape filtering each of a plurality of light source spectra. The filtered spectra are subsequently summed together to create a solar spectrum illuminating a predetermined point.

The solar simulator of US 5,217,285 comprises a xenon arc lamp and a tungsten filament lamp that together contain all the wavelengths required to accurately simulate a solar spectrum. Filters are used to filter the light from both lamps and direct this light via a fiber optic cable. A uniform output beam of the fiber optic cable passes through a suitable collimation apparatus to achieve parallel rays of light that closely resemble solar light for testing solar cells.

In each of US 4,641,227, US 5,623,149 and US 5,217,285 every single photovoltaic module which is to be tested has to be manipulated individually and placed with its light sensitive side towards the light emitting side of the solar simulator.

It is a first object of the invention to provide an alternative for existing solar simulators that is better suited for use in a production line.

It is a second object of the invention to provide a production line which is equipped to achieve high production rates .

It is a further object of the invention to improve the maintainability of the production line and the solar simulator or simulators used therein.

It is still a further object of the invention to reduce the downtime of the known production line.

These and other objects of the invention which will become apparent from the following disclosure are provided by a production line and a solar simulator according to one or more of the appended claims.

In a first aspect of the invention a production line for photovoltaic modules is provided, comprising a solar simulator and at least one photovoltaic module conveyor line for conveying the photovoltaic modules along a conveying track, and in which the solar simulator is positioned along the conveying track of the at least one conveyor line for the photovoltaic modules so as to move the photovoltaic modules adjacent the solar simulator so as to enable testing the photovoltaic modules in line.

The production line of the invention has the advantage that a series of photovoltaic modules can be tested in line by moving the photovoltaic modules in the conveying track to a position adjacent to the solar simulator, thereby streamlining the testing of the photovoltaic modules. Quick and repeated testing is thus possible of a series of photovoltaic modules saving time which would otherwise be required if the photovoltaic modules would be tested according to the prior art.

Wherein the photovoltaic modules are conveyed with their light-sensitive side facing downwards, the solar simulator is preferably positioned underneath the conveying track of the conveyor line and is arranged with a light emitting side that faces upwards. This eliminates the need to rotate the solar simulator as opposed to prior art solar simulators of for instance the Xenon flash lamp type, which need a distance of 3 to 8 meters to the photovoltaic module and are conventionally mounted in a tower or tunnel.

It is preferable that the conveyor line facilitates that the light emitted by the solar simulator can reach the photovoltaic module without obstructions, wherein the module is oriented with its light sensitive side facing downward. A further preferred embodiment of the production line has the feature that the solar simulator comprises at least one drawer supporting the light source or sources of the solar simulator. The light sources of the solar simulator and other equipment that may be embodied in the drawer are thus easily maintainable and can be easily replaced in case of end of life or malfunctioning of one or more light sources. In such a case, the light sources or even the complete drawer can be easily replaced with another drawer housing correctly functioning light sources and correctly functioning other components .

Even more preferably the production line of the invention has the feature that the solar simulator comprises a first drawer and a second drawer, together spanning the width of the simulator, and which drawers can be pulled out on opposite sides of the solar simulator next to the conveying track. In the known photovoltaic module production line the conveying track moves in a serpentine defining lanes, wherein the room between the lanes is limited. Two drawers that can be pulled out on opposite sides of the solar simulator next to the conveyor track can be half the width of a single drawer and therefore make more efficient use of the limited space available in the lanes between the conveying track. Preferably the drawers are designed symmetrically wherein a third drawer can be kept in storage in case one of both drawers needs quick replacement, minimizing manufacturing line downtime.

Still a further preferred feature of the production line is that the solar simulator comprises leveling means.

This promotes that a homogenous distribution of light along the entire light sensitive surface of the photovoltaic module that moves in front of the solar simulator of the invention can be accomplished. This takes therefore account of the fact that the characteristics of the light emitted by the solar simulator are dependent on the distance between the solar simulator and the irradiated photovoltaic module. If this distance is not constant along the light sensitive surface of the photovoltaic module, the light characteristics may slightly deviate from those resembling sunlight along this surface, leading to inaccurate test results. A further preferred embodiment of the production line comprises a solar simulator that is of the type comprising a mixture of lamps, preferably high-intensity discharge lamps and halogen lamps, which are provided in the drawer or drawers and are applied simultaneously to provide a mixture of light approximating sunlight, wherein the solar simulator further comprises a mirror or mirrors to achieve light homogeneity in the conveying track at a position where during use the photovoltaic modules pass. This promotes reproducible testing of the photovoltaic modules in simulation conditions better meeting real outdoor conditions.

The invention is also embodied in a solar simulator having the features of the solar simulator described herein as part of the production line of the invention.

In the following the invention will be further elucidated with reference to the drawing representing a nonlimiting example of a production line and a solar simulator according to the invention.

In the drawing: -figure 1 shows an isometric view of the production line of the invention; -figure 2 shows a front view of the production line according to figure 1; -figure 3 shows an isometric view of the solar simulator of the invention; -figure 4 shows a side view of the solar simulator according to figure 3, and -figure 5 shows a top view of the solar simulator according to figure 3.

Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

With reference to figure 1 and figure 2, the production line 1 of the invention comprises a conveyor line 4 for conveying photovoltaic modules 2 along a conveying track 5 and along a solar simulator 3. The photovoltaic modules 2 are moved one by one adjacent to the solar simulator 3. Figures 1 and 2 show the preferred situation in which the solar simulator 3 is positioned underneath the conveying track 5 of the conveyor line 4 and is arranged with a light emitting side 7 that faces upwards. The photovoltaic modules 2 can then be transported with their light-sensitive side 6 facing downwards during conveying of the modules 2.

The conveying motion of the conveying track 5 enables testing a series of the photovoltaic modules 2 in-line. Preferably the conveyor line 4 of the production line enables an obstructed irradiation of the modules 2.

With reference to figures 3 and 4, the solar simulator 3 comprises at least one drawer 8, 8' supporting the light source or sources of the solar simulator. For clarity, only the solar simulator 3 is shown and the conveyor line 4 has been omitted.

As the figures 3 and 4 show the solar simulator 3 preferably comprises two drawers 8, 8' that can be pulled out on opposite sides of the solar simulator 3 next to the conveying track 5. Figure 3 and 4 show the solar simulator 3 in a configuration wherein the drawers are opened, while figure 1 shows the solar simulator 3 with the drawers 8, 8' closed.

It is possible that the solar simulator 3 comprises leveling means 10, which are for instance embodied as screws provided with a circular bottom as can be seen in figures 1-4.

With reference to figure 5, the solar simulator 3 is preferably of the type comprising high-intensity discharge lamps 9 and halogen lamps 9' which are provided in the drawer or drawers 8, 8' and are applied simultaneously to provide a mixture of light approximating sunlight. The solar simulator 3 also comprises a mirror or mirrors 11 to achieve light homogeneity in the conveying track 5 (figure 1 and 2) at a position where during use the photovoltaic modules pass.

Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the production line and solar simulator of the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exemplary embodiment.

Claims

Production line (1) for photovoltaic modules (2) comprising a solar simulator (3) and at least one transport line (4) for moving photovoltaic modules along a transport path (5), characterized in that the solar simulator (3) runs along the transport path (5) of the at least one transport line (4) for the photovoltaic modules (2) is arranged to move the photovoltaic modules (2) next to the solar simulator (3) in order to test the photovoltaic modules (2) in the line possible.

Production line (1) according to claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic modules (2) have a light-sensitive side (6) and are moved with this light-sensitive side (6) facing downwards, characterized in that the solar simulator (3) ) is positioned below the conveyor track (5) of the conveyor line (4) and is arranged with a light-emitting side (7) which is directed upwards.

Production line (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transport line (4) is adapted to provide unhindered irradiation of the photovoltaic modules (2).

Production line (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the solar simulator (3) has at least one drawer (8) which is the light source (9) or light sources (9, 9 ') of the solar simulator ( 3) bears.

Production line (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that the solar simulator (3) has a first drawer (8) and a second drawer (8 ') which drawers on opposite sides next to the conveyor track ( 5) can be pulled out of the solar simulator (3).

Production line (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the first drawer (8) and the second drawer (8 ') are designed symmetrically.

Production line (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the solar simulator (3) has leveling means (10).

Production line (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the solar simulator (3) has various lamp types, preferably high-intensity discharge lamps (9) and halogen lamps (9 '), which are included in the drawer ( 8) or drawers (8, 8 ') and simultaneously used to provide a light mixture that approaches sunlight, and that the solar simulator (3) has a mirror or mirrors (11) for providing light homogeneity in the transport path (5) at a position where the photovoltaic modules pass during use.

Solar simulator (3), characterized in that it is provided with a light-emitting side (7) that faces upwards.

10. Solar simulator (3) according to claim 9, characterized in that it is dimensioned to fit under a transport path (5) of a transport line (4) for photovoltaic modules (2).

Solar simulator (3) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it has at least one drawer (8) that carries the light source (9) or light sources (9, 9 ') of the solar simulator (3).

12. Solar simulator (3) as claimed in any of the claims 9-11, characterized in that it has a first drawer (8) and a second drawer (8 ') which drawers (8, 8') on opposite sides of the solar simulator (3) can be pulled out next to the conveyor track (5).

Solar simulator (3) according to claim 12, characterized in that the first drawer (8) and second drawer (8 ') are designed symmetrically.

Solar simulator (3) according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the solar simulator (3) has leveling means (10).

Solar simulator (3) according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that it has high-intensity discharge lamps (9) and halogen lamps (9 ') which are provided in the drawer (8) or drawers (8). 8 ') and simultaneously used to provide a light mixture approaching sunlight, and having at least one mirror (11) for providing light homogeneity at a predetermined position on the front of the simulator (3).